BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

You're half right. Over manipulation screams in an image (unless intended) but less manipulations in no way makes it "better". The less skill you have in editing the more your edits will scream. Highly skilled editors can edit 'till the cows come home and the more, the better.

Exposure is not very important unless you really, really get it wrong. Focus is everything because it is about the only thing that can't be fixed in post, including composition. For example, that underexposed photo of aunt Jane with the light pole growing out of her head can easily be fixed in post in a few seconds. The same picture, out of focus, is trash.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

I agree. Perhaps I could have said it better. Your pp experience is more extensive than mine as we both know. I know what you mean about progress in workflow. What I was wanting to convey is my usual dislike of images I consider overbaked and sometimes garish. I tend to think that doesn’t save the day. And yes, I’m amazed by what one can accomplish in pp.

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

Fair points and I understand. It is just my habit to get all the parameters as close as possible to what I want, in camera. And yes I’ve trashed many a file because I didn’t get the focus I intended. The wheat and chaff.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

Over exposure is pretty deadly, but under is not a disaster if you are shooting raw.

BebuLamar

Getting correct exposure is important but we have to define what is correct exposure. And that depending on the photographer.

srt101fan

Good to see you express your views. I think we can all benefit from thoughtful comments by "starting newbie amateur[s]".

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

and for the effect intended.

rodpark2 Loc: Dallas, Tx

There is no such thing as "correct exposure." It's almost always a compromise between having highlight and shadow detail that both look acceptable. editing your images, and shooting in RAW gives a lot more latitude to being a little off on exposure. The latest full frame cameras are incredible in dynamic range so getting close on exposure is usually sufficient. An image that portrays a somber/dark mood my be better a little darker, whereas a lighter image helps evoke a happy and lighter feeling. It's an artistic subjective choice. If you shoot in manual mode you change shutter speed or aperture to change exposure, in automatic modes you use exposure compensation. The effect is the same, exactly the same. There are people who insist on shooting in M mode, but most do it for reasons they probably don't even understand themselves. Night shots are about the only time I ever use M, especially moon images. Light meters work the same in manual or auto modes. You just correct the image slightly differently. To argue the point I arranged some students in different lighting conditions and asked the M mode users to take a shot of each one as quickly as possible, while I did the same in Aperture priority. I shot all six in the time the students were still lining up shutter speed and aperture manually. You don't get different or better exposure, you just get it differently. I shoot most of my images in Aperture Priority. Another time I use manual is at sunset. As you recompose and the meter reads the sun and shadows in different parts of the frame, the exposure reading changes. I get a good exposure first, go to manual and use those settings, and then changes in composition won't affect the image if I don't read the meter and readjust each time. The moon is similar. Get a good exposure and lock it in using M settings. Unless there are clouds the same setting should work on all images. As the moon changes slightly in framing the meter will give different suggestions, ignore it. Most of my students who insist on shooting in manual do so because of the false belief that it's more professional and makes them look like pros. Also, if you're not editing your images you are sorely missing out on the control you could have.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Correct exposure is relative to what you want the final photo to look like and that’s totally subjective. It varies from subject to subject. Metering is just a starting point unless you’re just doing mostly snapshots like I do. I usually take what the meter gives me, depends on how far ahead I was thinking.

srt101fan

Thanks for responding, dione. I strongly disagree with your statement that your opinions don't matter because you are a novice! We can all benefit from thoughtful comments by novices. Keep shooting and keep posting....

agillot

correct exposure in auto mode with perfect light will work fine . manual mode will allow you to take near perfect pictures in not perfect light . like shooting very bright subjects , or shooting with the sun not behind you .the auto exposure will over or under expose by at least one f stop .you can change that in manual mode .

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Vincejr Loc: Northern Kentucky

Correct exposure is key. Also correct focus and crop right

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

What is correct for an image?
What the photographer intended or what the viewer desires.